How Many Times a Day Should I Feed My Puppy?

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How Many Times a Day Should I Feed My Puppy?

While most people who have puppies in the home will see signs of when to start feeding them puppy chow, the bigger questions is how many times a day should I feed my puppy? Unlike adult dogs who can leave food in the food bowl and only eat enough to satiate their hunger, puppies have yet to develop those traits and therefore may stuff themselves too much if fed in the same way as adult dogs.

The good news is that there is a simple formula that will let you feed them appropriately that both satisfies their hunger and keeps any digestive issues to a minimum.

Feed Small Amounts Three to Four Times Per Day

Although different sizes of puppies will eat different amounts of food, after all, a chihuahua will not eat the same amount as a mastiff every day, a good rule of thumb is a ½ cup of food, three to four times a day depending on the breed.

It is better to feed them in smaller amounts during the day compared to two larger amounts in the morning and afternoon. There are good reasons for this, but the most important one is that their digestive system needs time to adjust so that it does not become overwhelmed with the amount of food that the puppy eats. Remember, just like with babies, it takes time for their internal systems to slowly change over and adjust to eating new foods.

Three to four feedings based on their size offers enough food to get them to their next feeding while not overwhelming their digestive systems. Plus, if you start with a mix of puppy chow and milk substitute, you will help their digestive systems gradually make the change.

Signs to Look for When Feeding Your Puppy

Most puppies will have little to no issues with how many times that they are fed daily. This is because most puppies will nurse from their mothers three to four times per day, so that habit will stay with them as you change over to their new food.

Keep in mind that puppies are learning to eat solid food, so do not be surprised if they drop food around the bowl or seemingly have difficulty in chewing for the first few times that they eat. By feeding them three to four times per day, they will quickly learn.

Plus, occasional diarrhea, upset stomachs, or vomiting is not uncommon as the puppy might eat too fast or get too excited which causes this temporary condition. However, if this keeps up you will need to take the puppy to the vet to find out if something is wrong. You might want to call the vet first and

How Many Times a Day Should I Feed My Puppy?

make the changes recommended. But if that doesn’t work, then schedule an appointment.

To better understand how many times a day should I feed my puppy, you should talk to your veterinarian and find out more information. The vet can provide you with info about the breed, maturity rate, and amount of food that you should be feeding them daily.

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How Many Times a Day Should I Feed My Puppy?

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While most people who have puppies in the home will see signs of when to start feeding them puppy chow, the bigger questions is how many times a day should I feed my puppy?